Currently a Vice-President at Compass Partners, a merchant bank based in New York City, Waters will share his journey from top-level government service to high-risk active military missions against terrorism in his multimedia presentation “Live Life Like a Navy SEAL,” Thursday, October 22, in the RSD auditorium, 1545 St. Paul Street, in Rochester. An Hors d’Oeuvres, wine and dessert reception will start at 5:00 p.m., and Waters’ community presentation will start at 7:00 p.m. The event will be interpreted in American Sign Language and real-time captioned. To purchase tickets or to participate as an event patron or underwriter visit www.RSDeaf.org/Adventures or call 585-544-1240 ext. 0.

"The Rochester community is fortunate in having this extraordinary, courageous young man share his experiences and insights with us,” said retired Army Major General John Batiste, Honorary Chairperson of RSD 2015 Adventures in Education Program. “I hope that many in the Rochester area will take advantage of this opportunity to benefit from James Waters’ inspirational presentation. I particularly encourage families to attend as together we re-discover what it means to dedicate our lives to the service of others."

Proceeds from Adventures in Education support and enhance education programs for deaf and hard of hearing children and young adults who attend RSD. A portion of the proceeds will also support RSD student service projects at Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester.

Biography of Rochester School for the Deaf 2015 Adventures in Education Program Presenter James Waters

James Waters is currently a Vice President at Compass Partners, a boutique merchant bank based in New York City.

Prior to Compass, Waters served as a White House staffer from 2001-2005. He first worked as the aide to Office of Management and Budget Director Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., where he helped set up the US Department of Homeland Security. In 2003, he began serving as the Deputy Director of Scheduling, managing political vetting operations across the White House and the 2004 presidential campaign.

Feeling the urge to serve in the war on terror, Waters left the White House and entered active duty with the United States Navy in 2006, graduating from Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Naval Graduate. He then attended Basic Underwater Demolition I SEAL (BUD/S) Training (Class 264) and SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) in San Diego, California, as well as SEAL Delivery Vehicle School in Panama City, Florida. He was then assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE in Pearl City, Hawaii, serving as a Platoon Commander and completing three overseas deployments to Afghanistan and other areas.

During his active duty service Waters received several awards including the Bronze Star Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation (two awards). After leaving active duty in 2012, James served for 2 years as a Platoon Commander with SEAL Team 18 in the US Navy Reserve.

Waters completed his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSEs) at St. Paul’s School in England and is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 2001. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2014. He lives with wife and two young sons in Greenwich, Connecticut.

To purchase and print event tickets online or to participate as an event Patron or Underwriter visit: www.RSDeaf.org/Adventures